Study “High Expectations, low Trust”

18 September 2022. High Expectations, low Trust. European public opinion in crisis-ridden times” is the title of a recent study presented by Hardy Schilgen of the think tank eupinions at the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium last Thursday (15 September). The study (authors: Isabell Hoffmann and Hardy Schilgen) was conducted exclusively for the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium and presented there. The data were collected in June 2022, with nearly 12,000 online interviews. They are representative for the EU27 as a whole and for the individual Member States Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands.

In short, the findings are following: EU citizens want to see a more active European Union on the global stage and are generally satisfied with the political system of the EU. At the same time, their short-term expectations towards the EU to fulfil its potential in this regard are rather limited and trust in the “actors” of politics remains low.
Please read the entire study here.

Opening Speech by Olga Rudenko, Editor-in-Chief The Kyiv Independent

Potsdam, 15 September 2022

“Dear journalists, editors, and guests of the conference,

It’s an honor to be able to address you. I’m here as a journalist, as an editor of an independent news site, the Kyiv Independent, and as a Ukrainian.

If this event had taken place seven months ago, the trip here would have been an easy and pleasant one. I would have come to the airport in Kyiv, checked in, had a cup of overpriced coffee, and boarded my flight to Berlin. Two hours later, I’d arrive. It would be normal and safe. Now, to come here, I have to spend nearly 20 hours on trains, and then take a flight from another country. The trip takes at least one whole day. I don’t feel safe for most of it because Russia has attacked trains in the past. There are no more flights from Ukraine. We don’t know if any of our airports have survived, as Russia targeted them with missiles in the first days of the invasion.
Seven months ago, my life changed forever.”
Please read the entire speech here.

“It’s a matter of life and death for us. Putin wants to wipe out our people”

Potsdam, 16 September 2022. With the presentation of the M100 Media Award at the Orangerieschloss Sanssouci, the M100 Sanssouci Colloquium came to an end last evening. The European award were presented to the people of Ukraine who have been resisting Russia’s brutal invasion for months and defending their freedom and sovereignty on European soil. The former Ukrainian professional boxer Wladimir Klitschko accepted the award on behalf of the people.

Potsdam’s Lord Mayor Mike Schubert welcomed the approximately 200 invited international guests and emphasised: “The Ukrainian people are defending their country because it was attacked by Russia – we must never forget this in all debates about the conflict in Germany. Our support goes to the defenders.”

In the keynote speech of the event, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz underlined: “The denial of the Ukrainian nation is oblivious to history and infamous. read more “It’s a matter of life and death for us. Putin wants to wipe out our people”

“This war concerns us all”

Kai Diekmann, Founder “Storymachine” and member of the M100 Advisory Board on the justification of the M100 Media Award to the people of Ukraine on 15 September at the Orangerie Sanssouci in Potsdam:

“With heroic courage, stoic fortitude and indomitable will, the Ukrainian people have been defending themselves against Russia’s brutal invasion for months now. In doing so, they are defending not only their own independence, but the independence of all of Europe. This war therefore concerns us all, because it is a war against democracy, against freedom and against our system of values. With the M100 Media Award we honour the Ukrainian people, who make the inestimable value – and vulnerability – of peace and freedom so painfully clear to us.”

“The suffering of the Ukrainian people is not debatable”

Dr Christian Rainer, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of “Profil”, Austria, and member of the M100 Advisory Board on the justification of the M100 Media Award to the people of Ukraine on 15 September at the Orangerie Sanssouci in Potsdam:

“The question of the victims of the invasion of Ukraine escapes any discourse. The suffering of the Ukrainian people is not debatable.”

“With admirable courage, bravery and faith in the value of freedom”

“Who else but the Ukrainian people should we have awarded at M100! With admirable courage, bravery and faith in the value of freedom, the citizens of Ukraine are fighting against the Russian aggressor. The Ukrainians need our full solidarity and support.”

Christoph Lanz, Trustee Thomson Foundation, Head of Board Thomson Media and member of the M100 Advisory Board on the rationale for the M100 Media Award to the people of Ukraine on 15 September at the Orangerie Sanssouci.

“We owe the people of Ukraine a lot”

Prof. Dr Alexandra Borchardt, Senior Journalist, Book Author, Lecturer, Media Adviser and member of the M100 Advisory Board, about honouring the people of Ukraine with the M100 Media Award:

“The Ukrainian people are standing up for democratic values: freedom, individual rights, a free press, pluralistic debate. We owe them a lot.”

 

“They deserve our respect, our esteem and our utmost support”

Mathias Müller von Blumencron, member of the Board of Tamedia (Switzerland) and member of the M100 Advisory Board, on the decision to honour the people of Ukraine with the M100 Media Award:
“The value of freedom: no nation on earth has so passionately made this clear in the past six months as Ukraine. The country is fighting a heroic battle for its values: independence and freedom. Values that it defends day after day, hour after hour under deadly fire. What we take for granted, Ukrainian men and women have been risking their lives to preserve for themselves for months. They deserve our respect, our esteem and our utmost support. And therefore also the M100 award.”

The award ceremony will take place on 15 September in Potsdam. Wladimir Klitschko will accept the award on behalf of the people of Ukraine.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz holds the political keynote. The laudationes will be delivered by US Ambassador to German, Dr Amy Gutmann, and Donald Tusk, Chairman of the Civic Platform, Poland.

“A people who, in their darkest hour, became a nation”

Stephan-Andreas Casdorff, Publisher “Der Tagesspiegel” and member of the M100 Advisory Board:

“Brave. Persevering. Enduring. A people who, in their darkest hour, became a nation. That strives for democracy in the toughest of times. That is worthy of all honour – and certainly the M100 Media Award.”

“The M100 Media Award is a sign of solidarity and an acknowledgement of our responsibility”

Sabine Schicketanz, editor-in-chief of Potsdamer Neueste Nachrichten and member of the M100 Advisory Board, on the decision to honour the people of Ukraine with the M100 Media Award:
“The Ukrainian people are bravely defending not only their country and their democracy, but our Europe against the aggressor Russia. Putin’s brutal war, everything points to it, aims at annihilation. The Ukrainian people are threatened with genocide. We have a special duty to say so clearly and must prevent such a major crime. The M100 Media Award for the Ukrainian People is a sign of solidarity and an acknowledgement of our responsibility.”